Fluid purifier



March 19,1935. J A, MURPHY 1,995,015

FLUID PURIFIER Filed July 22, 1931 w I I 1X1 'E.\'TOR.

' JAMES A. MURPHY,

BY Wm ATTORNEY.

Patented Mar. 19, 1935 UNITED STATES Arsr oFricE" 1,995,075 FLUiD PURIFIER James A. Murphy, Hamilton, Ohio Application July 22, 1931, Serial No. 552,429

14 Claims. (01. 183-67) j an improved separator for removing moisture from air or gas so that said air or gas maybe directed as clean dry air or gas to the point of usage.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a combined separator and automatic discharge whereby the moisture separated from the air or gas is automatically disposed of through suitable channels.

A further object of the inventionresides in the improved details of construction and arrangement of parts as are illustrated in the drawin and described in the specification.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention should be readily understood by reference to'the following specification considered in conjunction withthe accompanying drawing il-' lustrating one embodiment of the invention and it is to be understood that any modifications may be made in the specific structural details there shown and described within the scope of the appended claims without departing from or exceeding the spirit of the invention.

In the drawing: I

Figure 1 is an elevational View of the improved device of this invention.

Figure 2 is a substantialvertical section of the device shown in Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a sectional View taken on line 33 of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a sectional View taken on line 4-4 of Figure 3.

Throughout the several views of the drawing similar reference characters are employed to denote the same or similar parts.

Also throughout the specification reference will be made to the separation of water and moisture from air under pressure, but it is notdesired to limit this structure tosuch use as the device may be employed with equal facility with gases; steam and other fluids of that nature.

As shown in the drawing the device comprises a casing having the upper end thereof closed as at 11 to form a dome. Interiorly of the dome is formed a flat surface 12 through which is tapped a perforation l3for pipe 14;. The pipe 14 is the discharge pipe'and conveys the clean dry air from the casing 10 to the point of use which may be any machine, unit or the like operated and controlled by compressed air. The lower end of the casingis flared to form a flange 15 and above the flange 15. a boss 16 is provided through which athreaded' perforation 17 passes for a pipel which connects the'casing 10 and pressure source. As seen in Figure 3 the threaded perforation 1'7 is extended beyond the pipe as a plane bore 19 which is tangent to the inner wall 20 of the casing. By this construction the compressed air is caused to swirl at a very rapid rate near the bottom of the casing 10. It has been found that the rapid swirling of the air precipitates a large majority of the moisture or liquid in the compressed air when'it ent'eredthe casing; By reference to Figure 2it will be'noted that the bottom of the casing is open'and is adapted to be closed by a head 21 which is provided with a flange 22similar to and abutting the flange 15 of the casing 10. A plurality of suitable similar clamp bolts 23 pass through the abutting flanges 15 and 22 for clamping them to one another. The upper surface of the head 21 which forms the floor or baseof the casing 10 is provided with a series'of declines and slopes 24 all draining-toward a port 25 formed through the head 21 at its thinnest part, By this construction'the moisture removed from the compressed air collects on the sloping base 24 and drains through the port 25 clearing the casing 10 of all foreign matter.

The air after having the major portion of the moisture removed therefrom by the swirling thereof passes upwardly through the casing to the discharge pipe 14. 'Theair however in its passage through the casing is intercepted by a 'plurality'of baffles 26, 27 and28 where additional moisture is removedtherefrom. These bafiiesare in the nature of graduatedperforated plates largest diameter holes. at the bottom: and the plate 28 with the smallest diameter'holes at the top while the'intermediat'e plate 2'7 has holes of a diameter between thatof the other holes. These plates each surround a support bar 29 depending from thetopof the dome 11 and is attached thereto by the screw threads 30 formed at the upper end thereof. The support bar 29 is thread-v ed substantially throughout its length-and has the baffles surrounding it at spaced intervals each. being held in place by a pair of nuts. 31 and 32.' The holding or clamping means for each of the baflies 26, 2'7 and 28 is the same and it is deemed suflicient if but one of :them be described in detail. Accordingly the baffle plate 26 has between its faces and the nuts 31 and 32 spiders;33' and 34 which are each provided with a central'boss 35 of a width or thickness greater than the thickness of the radial arms 36 that extend therefrom.

The outer ends of the arms 36 are connected by a ring 37 from which project lugs 38 which contact with the inner wall of the casing 10 and space the ring therefrom. By this construction each baflle unit consisting of a baffle plate 26, 27 or 28, a pair of spiders 33 and 34 and a pair of nuts 31 and 32 are clamped together between the said nuts 31 and 32 and is held against relative displacement with the rod. By reference to Figure 2 it'will be noted that the radial arms 36, ring 37 and lugs 38 are spaced from the sides of the baffle plates except at the center thereof where clamping contact is had between the plates and the adjacent faces of thecentral boss 35. This construction permits the baffle plates, which are bendable, to flex when the compressed air is passing through the casing to the point of use. As soon as the air pressure is cutoff the bafiles spring back to their normal position which is that shown in Figure 2. This flexing or fluttering of the bafiie plates flicks off any drops ofmoisture'that are collected thereon from the air as it passes therethrough causing said moisture to be collected on the base of the casing and discharged through the port 25. i

The head 21 has secured to its under surface a housing 39 forming a trap for the moisture and water and from which the said moisture and water are automatically discharged. The housing is formed at one side thereof with a vertical duct or conduit 40 communicating at one end with the-port 25 and at the other end with a horizontal ductor conduit 41 which terminatesin a second vertical. duct or conduit 42 emptying into a chamber 43. The chamber 43 has pivoted therein an inverted bucket 44 of a Specific gravity greater than the specific gravity of the water displaced thereby. The upper surface or top 45 of the bucket 44 is provided with a vent 46 for a purpose that will later appear. A hinge plate 4'7 secured to the top 45 of the bucket is pivotally secured at 48 to hinge lugs 49 carried by a ring 50. I

The ring 50 surrounds a ferrule 51 secured in an opening 52 formed in the under face of the head 21. The ferrule 51 has its opening at one'end restricted whichforms a valve seat for conical valve 53 secured to and extending from the hinge plate 47. The opening through the ferrule 51 terminates in a horizontal duct or conduit 54 communicating with a' discharge pipe 55 for car-' rying'off the precipitated moisture and water.

The operation of the trap is as follows;

The compressed air entering the casing by way of the pipe 18 is forced through the duct 40 into thehousing 39 and lifts the bucket 44 for causing the valve 53 to close the opening through the ferrule 51 and preventing escapeof air therethrough. i As the moisture and water drains through the said port andis forced thereinto-by the :air, the level gradually rises and any air with in1the trap housing as the horizontal duct or conduit141 is filled is forced from the interior of the bucket through the vent 46 therein. Continued rise of the water in the trap housing 39 eventually reaches-a level above the bucket 44 whereupon the bucket drops by gravity to the position shown in -Figure' 2, thereby'removing the valvefrom its seat and opening passagebetweenthe discharge pipe'55 and the interior of the trap housing 39. The compressed air now pushes all thewater withinthe housing through the said opening in the ferrule'through the discharge pipe 55 until the air engages the'inner surface of the bucket whereupon it is again lifted to close the valve 53 and seal the trap and easing fromthe atmosphere. It should be noted that this ejection of the water from the casing is momentary and does not operate to lower the pressure in the line.

What is claimed is: 1. In a device for separating water and moisture from compressed air and gaseous fluids the combination of a casing having an inlet and an exhaust port, a plurality of perforated flexible baffles between the said inlet and exhaust ports, said baffles having the size of their perforations graduated from the inlet to the exhaust port the bafiles flexing under the pressure of the fluid as it passes therethrough and returning to normal position when the flow of the fluid is stopped, said flexing of the battles causing discharge of the water and moisture therefrom collected during the flow of the fluid, and means limiting the flexing of the baffles by the fluid under pressure.

2. In a device for separating water and moisture from compressed air and gaseous fluids the combination of a casing having an inlet and an exhaust port, a plurality of flexible bafiles between the said inlet and exhaust ports, the bailies flexing under the pressure of the fluid as it passes therethrough and returning to normal position when the flowof the fluid is stopped, said flexing of the baffles causing discharge of the water and moisture therefrom collected. during the flow. of the fluid, means limiting the flexing of the baflles by thefluid under pressure, said means comprising a spider definitely spaced above each baffle, a second spider definitely spaced below each baiiie, and. means clamping the spiders and baffles to one another. v

3. In a device for separating water and moisture from compressed air and gaseous fluids the combination of a casing having an inlet and an exhaust port, a plurality of flexible baffles between the said inlet and exhaust ports, the baffles flexing under the pressure of the fluid as it passes therethrough and returning to normal position when the flow of the fluid is stopped, said flexing of the .bafiies causing discharge of the water and moisture therefrom collected during the flow of the fluid, means limiting the flexing of the baffles by the fluid under pressure, said means comprising a spider definitely spaced above each bafiie, a second spider definitely spaced below each baffle, means clamping the spiders and baffles to one another, and means below the casing receiving the moisture dropped from the baffles and automatically discharging same from the casing- 4. In a device for separating water and moisture from compressed air and gaseous fluids the combination of a hollow casing closed at one end and open at the other, an inlet conduit for the casing near the open end thereof and conveying the fluid under pressure to the casing tangentially thereof whereby the fluid swirls at a rapid rate within the casing precipitating through the centrifugal action the water and moisture therein, a head closing the open end of casing andforming on its 1 upper surface a base for the casing, the said base inclining toward a given low point having a port therein for the escape of the fluid from the easing, a. trap secured to the under surface of the head and receiving the water and moisture from the port, and means automatically discharging the moisture and water from the trap.

5. In a device for separating water and moisture from compressed air and gaseous fluids the combination'of a hollow casing closed at one end and open at the other, an inlet conduit for the casing near the open end thereof and conveying the fluid under pressure to the casing tangentially thereof whereby the fluid swirls at a rapid rate Within the casing precipitating through'the centrifugal action the water and moisture therein, a head closing the open end of the casing and forming on its upper surface a base for the casing, the said base inclining toward a given low point having a port therein for the escape of the fluid from the casing, a trap secured to the under surface of the head and receiving the water and moisture from the port, means automaticallydischarging the moisture and water from the trap, an exhaust conduit extending from the closed end of the casing and a plurality of baflies between the inlet and exhaust conduits I to further remove water and moisture from the fluid'as it passes through the casing which water and fluid is collected on the head and drained to the 'port.

6. In a fluid purifier the combination of a casing having an open-end and a closed end, a support depending from the closed end-of the casing interiorly thereof, a pluralityof baflle plates surrounding and secured to the support,-each plate having a plurality of perforations therein and the said perforations being graduated insiz'e from the opened to the closed end, a trap housing below the casing and having an open end, and a head between the casing and trap housing and forming on opposite sides thereof a closure for the open ends of the casing and housing said head having a conduit therethrough for establishing communication between the casing and trap whereby impurities removed from the fluid passing. through the casing are collected in the trap housing.

7. In a fluid purifier the combination of a casing having an open end and a closed end, a support depending from the closed end of the easing interiorly thereof, a plurality of bafile plates surrounding and secured to the support, each late having a plurality of perforations therein and the said perforations being graduated in size from the opened to the closed end, a trap housing below the casing and having an open end, a head between the casing and trap housing and forming on opposite sides thereof a closure for the open ends of the casing and housing said head having a conduit therethrough for establishing communication between the casing and trap whereby impurities removed from the fluid passing through the casing are collected in the trap housing, and means within the trap housing operated by the compressed air for automatically discharging the impurities from the trap.

8. A combined unitary separator and trap for compressed air and other gaseous fluids comprising a separator housing having an inlet and an exhaust, a baflie in the path of flow of the fluid between the inlet and exhaust, the inlet to the separator housing being so arranged with respect to said housing and baflie as to cause a swirling of the fluid before it passes through the baflle, the swirling of the fluid and the baffle causing a discharge of moisture and other impurities from the fluid. A trap housing secured to the separator housing at a point beneath the separator chamber within the separator housing, one of said housings having its end adjacent the other housing substantially closed to form a head between said housings and adapted to receive the moisture separated from the gaseous fluid by the baflies, said head further having a port therethrough to drain the moisture from the separator housing into the trap housing, and an inverted bucket type control valve in said trap housing controlling the discharge of the moisture from tn trap housing. 1 I

9, In a combined separator and trap mechanism for separating moisture and the like from compressed air and other gaseous fluids "the combination of a circular housing having an inlet mally closed by the "compressed air and gaseous fluid but operable when the moisture reaches a predetermined height to open the exhaust port.

10. In a separator and trap for use with com pressed air and other gaseous fluids the combination of a pair of superimposed housings, one forming a. separator chamber and the other a trap, the separator chamber having an inlet and an outlet for the gaseous fluid, the inlet being soar ranged with respect to the chamber and outlet as to cause a swirling of the gaseous fluid within the chamber to thereby discharge moisture and impurities from the said gaseous fluid, a head associated with one of the housings and completing on opposite sides thereof the separator chamber and trap housing, said head receiving the moistureand impurities discharged from the gaseous fluid and having a port therethrough to convey said moisture from the separator chamber to the I trap, and means automatically operable by the moisture for discharging same from the trap.

11. In a separator and trap for use with compressed air and other gaseous fluids the combination of a pair of superimposed housings, one forming a separator chamber and the other a trap,

the separator chamber having an inlet and an outlet for the gaseous fluid, the inlet being so arranged with respect to the chamber and outlet as to cause a swirling'of thegaseous fluid Within the chamber to thereby discharge moisture and impurities from the said gaseous fluid, a bafiie between the swirling fluid and outlet through which baffle the fluid passes to the outlet for further removing moisture and impurities from the fluid, a head associated with one of the housings and completing on opposite sides thereof the separator chamber and trap housing, said head receiving the moisture and impurities discharged from the gaseous fluid and having a port therethrough to convey said moisture from theseparator chamber to the trap, and means automatically operable by the moisture for discharging same from the trap.

12. A combined separator and trap for use with compressed air and other gaseous fluids comprising a separator housing having an inlet and an outlet for the fluid, the inlet co-operating. with the housing to cause a swirling of the fluid within the housing thereby discharging moisture and impurities from the fluid, a trap housing secured to the separator housing at a point below the separator housing, a closure memberon one of said housings at its connecting end and'forming a receiver for the moisture discharged from the fluid, a valve controlled discharge port from the 'traphousing, a float for the valve adapted to be position, said float being heavier than the mois ture which when'it rises above t he float causes same to open the valve, and a port through the receiver and trap housing for conveying the mois- 1 ture and fluid into the trap below the float;

' 13. In a-unitary separator and trap mechanism for use with gaseous fluids and the like for removing from said fluid, moisture and other-impurities, comprising a separator housing forming a separator chamber therein through which the gaseous'fluid passes, a bafiie in said chamber for removing said moisture and impurities from the fluid, a traphousing secured to and beneath the separator housing, apartition between said housingsfor completing on one side thereof the separator chamber and ontheother side the trap chamber and for confining the gaseous fluid on one side of the partition and the moisture and impurities on the other side of said partition, said partition receiving the moisture and impurities separated from the gaseous fluid, a port through said partition for draining the moisture from the said partition into the trap chamber, an exhaust from the trap-housing through which the moisture and impurities, are discharged, and a valve normally closing said exhaust and held to its seat by the gaseous fluid.

, acted upon by the fluid to hold same aclosed 14; In a unitary separator and trapmechanism for use with gaseous fluids and the like for removing from said fluid, moisture and other impurities comprising a separator housing forming a separator chamber therein'through which the gaseous fluid passes, a battle in said chamber for removingrsaid moisture and impurities from the fluid, a trap housing secured to and beneath the separator housing, a partition between said housings for completing on one side thereof the separator-chamber and on the other side the trap chamber and for confining the gaseous fluid on oneside of the partition and the moisture and impurities on the other side of said partition, said partition receiving the moisture and impurities separated from the gaseous fluid, a port through said partitionfor draining the moisture from the said partition into the trap chamber, an exhaustfrom the trap housing through which the moisture and impurities are discharged, a valve normally closing said exhaust and held to its seat by the gaseous fluid, said member being heavier than the moisture whereby upon filling of the trap housing with the separated moisture the member drops by gravity to unseat the valve.

JAMES A. MURPHY. 

